english stories-london-第21部分

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country。　Why；　sir；　/I　dare　not/。　I　should　wander　back　to　my　old

village；　and　Well；　I　know　how　it　would　be　then。　I　should　find　it

smaller　and　meaner；　I　should　search　about　for　the　flowers　and　nests；

and　listen　for　the　music　that　I　knew　sixty…five　years　ago；　and

remember；　and　they　would　not　be　discoverable。　Also　every　face　would

stare　at　me；　for　all　the　faces　I　know　are　dead。　Then　I　should　think　I

had　missed　my　way　and　come　to　the　wrong　place；　or　（worse）　that　no　such

spot　ever　existed；　and　I　have　been　cheating　myself　all　these　years；

that；　in　fact；　I　was　mad　all　the　while；　and　have　no　stable　reason　for

existingI；　the　oldest　clerk　in　Tweedy's！　To　be　sure；　there　would　be

my　parents'　headstones　in　the　churchyard。　But　what　are　they；　if　the

churchyard　itself　is　changed？



〃As　it　is；　with　three　hundred　pounds　per　annum；　and　enough　laid　by　to

keep　him；　if　I　fail；　an　old　bachelor　has　no　reason　to　grumble。　But　the

sight　of　that　little　chap's　nosegay；　and　the　thought　of　the　mother　who

tied　it　there；　made　my　heart　swell　as　I　fancy　the　earth　must　swell

when　rain　is　coming。　His　eyes　filled　once；　and　he　brushed　them　under

the　pretence　of　pulling　his　cap　forward；　and　stole　a　glance　round　to

see　if　any　one　had　noticed　him。　The　other　passengers　were　busy　with

their　own　thoughts；　and　I　pretended　to　stare　out　of　the　window

opposite；　but　there　was　the　drop；　sure　enough；　on　his　hand　as　he　laid

it　on　his　lap　again。



〃He　was　bound　for　the　docks；　and　thence　for　the　open　sea；　and　I；　that

was　bound　for　Tweedy's　only；　had　to　get　out　at　the　top　of　Cheapside。　I

know　the　'bus　conductor；a　very　honest　man；and；　in　getting　out；　I

slipped　half　a　crown　into　his　hand　to　give　to　the　boy；　with　my

blessing；　at　his　journey's　end。　When　I　picture　his　face；　sir；　I　wish　I

had　made　it　five　shillings；　and　gone　without　a　new　tie　and　dinner

altogether。〃







THE　HIRED　BABY



BY



MARIE　CORELLI







A　dark；　desolate　December　night；　a　night　that　clung　to　the　metropolis

like　a　wet　black　shroud；　a　night　in　which　the　heavy；　low…hanging

vapours　melted　every　now　and　then　into　a　slow；　reluctant　rain；　cold　as

icicle…drops　in　a　rock　cavern。　People　passed　and　repassed　in　the

streets　like　ghosts　in　a　bad　dream；　the　twinkling　gas…light　showed

them　at　one　moment　rising　out　of　the　fog；　and　then　disappearing　from

view　as　though　suddenly　engulfed　in　a　vaporous　ebon　sea。　With　muffled；

angry　shrieks；　the　metropolitan　trains　deposited　their　shoals　of

shivering；　coughing　travelers　at　the　several　stations；　where　sleepy

officials；　rendered　vicious　by　the　weather；　snatched　the　tickets　from

their　hands　with　offensive　haste　and　roughness。　Omnibus　conductors

grew　ill…tempered　and　abusive　without　any　seemingly　adequate　reason；

shopkeepers　became　flippant；　disobliging；　and　careless　of　custom；

cabmen　shouted　derisive　or　denunciatory　language　after　their　rapidly

retreating　fares；　in　short；　everybody　was　in　a　discontented；　almost

spiteful　humour；　with　the　exception　of　those　few　aggressively　cheerful

persons　who　are　in　the　habit　of　always　making　the　best　of　everything；

even　bad　weather。　Down　the　long　wide　vista　of　the　Cromwell　Road；

Kensington；　the　fog　had　it　all　its　own　way；　it　swept　on　steadily；　like

thick　smoke　from　a　huge　fire；　choking　the　throats　and　blinding　the

eyes　of　foot…passengers；　stealing　through　the　crannies　of　the　houses；

and　chilling　the　blood　of　even　those　luxurious　individuals　who；　seated

in　elegant　drawing…rooms　before　blazing　fires；　easily　forgot　that

there　were　such　bitter　things　as　cold　and　poverty　in　that　outside

world　against　which　they　had　barred　their　windows。　At　one　house　in

particulara　house　with　gaudy　glass　doors　and　somewhat　spoiled　yellow

silk　curtains　at　the　windows；　a　house　that　plainly　said　to　itself；

〃Done　up　for　show！〃　to　all　who　cared　to　examine　its　exteriorthere

stood　a　closed　brougham；　drawn　by　a　prancing　pair　of　fat　horses。　A

coachman　of　distinguished　appearance　sat　on　the　box；　a　footman　of

irreproachable　figure　stood　waiting　on　the　pavement；　his　yellow…gloved

hand　resting　elegantly　on　the　polished　silver　knob　of　the　carriage

door。　Both　these　gentlemen　were　resolute　and　inflexible　of　face；　they

looked　as　if　they　had　determined　on　some　great　deed　that　should　move

the　world　to　wild　applause；　but；　truth　to　tell；　they　had　only　just

finished　a　highly　satisfactory　〃meat…tea；〃　and　before　this　grave

silence　had　fallen　upon　them；　they　had　been　discussing　the

advisability　of　broiled　steak　and　onions　for　supper。　The　coachman　had

inclined　to　plain　mutton…chops　as　being　easier　of　digestion；　the

footman　had　earnestly　asseverated　his　belief　in　the　superior

succulence　and　sweetness　of　the　steak　and　onions；　and　in　the　end　he

had　gained　his　point。　This　weighty　question　being　settled；　they　had

gradually　grown　reflective　on　the　past；　present；　and　future　joys　of

eating　at　some　one　else's　expense；　and　in　this　bland　and　pleasing

state　of　meditation　they　were　still　absorbed。　The　horses　were

impatient；　and　pawed　the　muddy　ground　with　many　a　toss　of　their　long

manes　and　tails；　the　steam　from　their　glossy　coats　mingling　with　the

ever…thickening　density　of　the　fog。　On　the　white　stone　steps　of　the

residence　before　which　they　waited　was　an　almost　invisible　bundle；

apparently　shapeless　and　immovable。　Neither　of　the　two　gorgeous

personages　in　livery　observed　it；　it　was　too　far　back　in　a　dim　corner；

too　unobtrusive；　for　the　casual　regard　of　their　lofty　eyes。　Suddenly

the　glass　doors　before　mentioned　were　thrown　apart　with　a　clattering

noise；　a　warmth　and　radiance　from　the　entrance…hall　thus　displayed

streamed　into　the　foggy　street；　and　at　the　same　instant　the　footman；

still　with　grave　and　imperturbable　countenance；　opened　the　brougham。

An　elderly　lady；　richly　dressed；　with　diamonds　sparkling　in　her　gray

hair；　came　rustling　down　the　steps；　bringing　with　her　faint　odours　of

patchouly　and　violet…powder。　She　was　followed　by　a　girl　of　doll…like

prettiness；　with　a　snub　nose　and　petulant　little　mouth；　who　held　up

her　satin…and…lace　skirts　with　a　sort　of　fastidious　disdain；　as　though

she　scorned　to　set　foot　on　earth　that　was　not　carpeted　with　the　best

velvet　pile。　As　they　approached　their　carriage　the　inert　dark　bundle；

crouched　in　the　corner；　started　into　lifea　woman；　with　wild　hair　and

wilder　eyes；　whose　pale　lips　quivered　with　suppressed　weeping　as　her

piteous　voice　broke　into　sudden　clamour：



〃Oh；　lady！〃　she　cried；　〃for　the　love　of　God；　a　trifle！　Oh；　lady；

lady！〃



But　the　〃lady；〃　with　a　contemptuous　sniff　and　a　shake　of　her　scented

garments；　passed　her　before　she　could　continue　her　appeal；　and　she

turned　with　a　sort　of　faint　hope　to　the　softer　face　of　the　girl。



〃Oh；　my　dear；　do　have　pity！　Just　the　smallest　little　thing；　and　God

will　bless　you！　You　are　rich　and　happyand　I　am　starving！　Only　a

penny！　For　the　babythe　poor　little　baby！〃　And　she　made　as　though　she

would　open　her　tattered　shawl　and　reveal　some　treasure　hidden　therein；

but　shrunk　back；　repelled　by　the　cold；　merciless　gaze　that　fell　upon

her　from　those　eyes；　in　which　youth　dwelt　without　tenderness。



〃You　have　no　business　on　our　door　step；〃　said　the　girl；　harshly。　〃Go

away　directly；　or　I　shall　tell　my　servant　to　call　a　policeman。〃



Then；　as　she　entered　the　brougham　after　her　mother；　she　addressed　the

respectable　footman　angrily；　giving　him　the　benefit　of　a　strong　nasal

intonation。



〃Howard；　why　do　you　let　such　dirty　beggars　come　near　the　carriage？

What　are　you　paid　for；　I　should　like　to　know？　It　is　perfectly

disgraceful　to　the　house！〃



〃Very　sorry；　miss！〃　said　the　footman；　gravely。　〃I　didn't　see　thethe

person　before。〃　Then　shutting　the　brougham　door；　he　turned　with　a

dignified　air　to　the　unfortunate　creature；　who　still　lingered　near；

and；　with　a　sweeping　gesture　of　his　gold…embroidered　coat…sleeve；　said

majestically：



〃Do　you　'ear？　Be　hoff！〃



Then；　having　thus　performed　his　duty；　he　mounted　the　box　beside　his

friend　the　coachman；　and　the　equipage　rattled　quickly　away；　its

gleaming　lights　soon　lost　in　the　smoke…laden　vapours　that　drooped

downward　like　funeral　hangings　from　the　invisible　sky　to　the　scarcely

visible　ground。　Left　to　herself；　the　woman　who　had　vainly　sought

charity　from　those　in　whom　no　charity　existed；　looked　up　despairingly；

as　one　distraught；　and　seemed　as　though　she　would　have　given　vent　to

some　fierce　exclamation；　when　a　feeble　wail　came　pitifully　forth　from

the　sheltering　folds　of　her　shawl。　She　restrained　herself　instantly；

and　walked　on　at　a　rapid　pace；　scarcely　heeding　whither　she　went；　till

she　reached　the　Catholic　church　known　as　the　〃Oratory。〃　Its　unfinished

facade　loomed　darkly　out　of　the　fog；　there　was　nothing　picturesque　or

inviting　about　it；　yet　there　were　people　passing　softly　in　and　out；

and　through　the　swinging　to　and　fro　of　the　red　baize…covered　doors

there　came　a　comforting　warm　glimmer　of　light。　The　woman　paused；

hesitated；　and　then；　having　apparently　made　up　her　mind；